How to Manage Money and Be Happier than a Millionaire

January 05, 2018

The more money you have the more you want

People spend a lot of time and resources to learn how to manage money, or to pay someone to manage their money for them—all with the hopes they’ll have more of it in the future—this will make them happier, right?

Not, necessarily—studies show that no matter how much money a person has, the tendency is to want more and fear losing what they have. Most people, millionaires included, cause themselves unhappiness thinking about money-gone-wrong in the past or about money-fears in the future.

Do you worry about $$$? Here’s a reminder of how living in the present moment can help you make better financial decisions and be happier and healthier than a lot of millionaires. We’ll also take a look at how to manage and think about money to help you get every juicy bit out of life in the process.

Did You Know? Unhappiness around money is caused by regrets and worry—regrets are about the past and worry is about the future. Regrets and worries about money don’t change anything—they’re simply replacing our engagement with what’s happening Right Here Right Now.

Is it even possible to worry or regret if your thoughts are entirely living in the present moment?

If you’d like to learn how to manage money in a mindful way that leads to greater happiness and peace, accept that managing it well is as much about your thoughts about money as it is how you spend it.

Think about the time you spend with thoughts about money. Are you in the past, the present, or the future? It’s mostly about what’s happened or what might happen in regards to money, isn’t it?

Living in the Present Moment Leads to Better Financial Decisions

Some people think the ‘mindfulness’ philosophy is about throwing caution to the wind and disregarding responsibilities in the future—it’s actually just the opposite—it’s about the awareness of ‘what is’ in the present moment, including your financial status.

Think about this—many poor financial decisions happen because money is spent based on what a person might have or make in the future, or from simply ignoring current financial situations. Making decisions based on where you are financially Right Here Right Now will keep you from spending money you don’t have and getting into debt, ultimately causing you stress, worry, and regret.

If you know what’s in your bank account and what your financial obligations are, you can make decisions based on the truth of ‘what is’ in the present moment, and you won’t go out to that fancy dinner when you can put on some music and make a healthy meal at home—or book that spendy vacation instead of planning a staycation, exploring your hometown with family and friends, camping in the backyard, and making everyones’ favorite meals.

Living in the present moment doesn’t cost anything—

If you make decisions that fit within your budget, while being present with who and what is right in front of you in the moment, it’s a Win-Win!

The RHRN symbol is a "Bump" that we use to gently give a nudge when we allow our mind to wander to the past or future. When we see it on our water bottle or on the back window of our car, it reminds us to stop thinking about past and future money thoughts and come back to Right Here Right Now

5 Steps - How to Manage Money and Be Happier than a Millionaire

First, make a commitment to yourself

Repeat after me, “If I can’t do anything about a money problem in the present moment, I’ll put aside any thoughts about the issue and be present with who and what is right in front of me.”

Good! Now, set aside time—schedule it For thinking about how to manage money so that you spend the rest of your time living in the present moment:

Choose—or create—a calm block of time to deal with your money thoughts.

Take a couple of deep breaths before you begin the discussion—even if it’s with yourself.

Account for what’s coming in and what’s going out—write it down.

Be accountable and avoid the blame game.

Focus on needs before wants—be creative

And remember… living in the present moment doesn’t have to cost anything!!